I Stand Here Ironing

One of the most essential and influential bonds forms between a mother and her daughter. It is a bond that should not be taken for granted, for it places an enormous psychological weight upon a daughter’s lifelong character and well-being. However, when the inescapable struggles of economic depression and single motherhood arise, such a bond is sacrificed. Throughout Tillie Olsen’s “I Stand Here Ironing”, a mother looks back at her daughter, Emily’s, childhood and contemplates the positive and negative elements of their relationship that have derived as a result of her inability to provide proper care and participation in her daughter’s life. Born into a life controlled by poverty, Emily faced an overwhelming amount of negative factors that have taken a toll on her character. After Emily’s father left when she was only eight months old, she was forced into a life filled with abandonment as she was passed from caregiver to caregiver, whether it be the neighbors, various daycares, her father’s family, or the convalescent home as her mother continuously struggled to make enough money to support them. Without a nurturing environment to grow up in or a mother there to properly care for her, Emily instead became, “thin and dark and foreign looking” (Olsen 236). She also grew somber in nature, became jealous
Due to the fact that Emily lacked any true relationships with others, she was instead left to turn to her own self for success. This individuality is what allowed for her talent as a comedic performer to unveil. In addition, her mother also serves as an example of what hard work and dedication can accomplish. Although Emily may not truly appreciate her at nineteen, she will one day realize her mother never gave up on her and was only doing what she thought was